BRIDES Florida: Easy Places to Get to from Miami for a Fun Bachelorette Weekend

There's no doubt South Beach is brimming with places perfect for a bachelorette party, but just a short drive — or flight — away you can change up the scenery with a trip that's almost as exotic as jetsetting to the Caribbean — minus the price tag

Islamorada

About an hour drive from Miami on the scenic Overseas Highway lies some of Florida's best snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Spend the weekend exploring shipwrecks below the sea from your home base at the new Amara Cay Resort in Islamorada, a slice of seaside paradise complete with hammocks and a rum bar.

St. Petersburg

Take the party over to Florida's west coast staying at one of St. Petersburg's newest boutique hotels, the Mediterranean palace-inspired Hotel Zamora, where the only details you'll need to decide are whether you'd rather spend the day at the beach nearby or charter a yacht for the ladies and hit the water.

There's a reason Fort Lauderdale earned a reputation as a spring break destination. Head downtown for the ultimate bar crawl migrating from one Irish pub to the next in full party fare (boas and tiaras are definitely recommended) or blend boozy nights with days of beach bootcamp at W Fort Lauderdale, spending the weekend in a WOW Suite, where you can toast to your upcoming nuptials with Champagne on the wraparound terrace overlooking the Atlantic. And if you need a bit of hair of the dog come Sunday morning, Steak 954 has just the cure with its over-the-top brunch that includes banana toffee Pop Tarts.

Key West

If you can't get all the way out to New Orleans for the weekend, just three hours away lies Florida's version of Bourbon Street in the heart of Key West. Stay right on Duval Street at the Ocean Key Resort & Spa, where you can recover from booze cruises and one too many frozen drinks at Fat Tuesday with purifying volcanic clay treatments at the hotel's spa.

Palm Beach

Brides going more for St. Tropez than South Beach vibes for their bachelorette party can hold court at the classic Breakers Resort spread across 140 acres in Palm Beach. A concierge will take care of all your poolside demands from your bungalow and you won't ever have to leave views of the beach behind while indulging in a spa treatment. When you do finally decide to leave the hotel grounds, make your way to Worth Avenue for an afternoon of haute shopping.

San Juan

The Puerto Rican capital offers all the ingredients for a beach-themed bachelorette party in the Caribbean — no passport required. Soak up some sun (while working on your wedding day tan) laying on the beaches of Culebra — named second-best in the world by the Discover Channel — or go hiking in the El Yunque Forest stopping to snap Instagram pics in front of the waterfalls.